Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-07-22
THE MAXIM MACHINE GUN.
Az Engine Which Fires Six Hundred
Shots Minute.

Shots Minute.
Statisticians inform us that the entire
loss of life in wars between so-called civil
lied countries from the year 1893 to 1877
has reached the enormous amount of
100000 To many persons these figures
convey sad and salutary lesson. On the
other hand, there are many who act as il
they needed or knew them not Readers will
differ as TO whether it is laudable or other.
wise TO invent any means by which the
above figures might possibly be increased;
but, leaving the sentimental part of the
subject aside, all will readily unite in adj
miring the wonderful mechanism which
makes the Maxim machine gun an engine
of terrible dcstructivencss. Particular in
terest attaches TO it at the present time ow-
ing to the fact that the great African eX-
plorcr, Stanley, provided himself with
this formidable weapon, to be used dcfens-
lively in the expedition on which he re-
Gently started for the relief Of Emin Bcy.
Moreover it obtained a gold me lal at the
Inventions Exhibition, and has been APP
proved f, If not actually adopted, by
many governments, the Chinese Govern
ment being particularly mentioned as one
OF the largest purchasers
It's rate of tiring-G00 rounds a minute
is at least three times as rapid as that of
any other machine gun. 1t has only sin
Gle barrel, which, when the shot is fired,
reCoils distance of threc-quarters of an
inch on the other parts of the gun. This
recoil sets moving the machinery which
automatically keeps up continuous fire
at the extraordinary rate Of ten rounds a
second. Each TecOll Of the b rrel has
therefore 10 perform the necessary iunc-
tons of extracting and ciccting the empty
cartridge, of bringing up the next full one
and placing II in Its proper position IN the
barrel, of cooking the hammer and pulling
the trigger As long as the firing con
tinucs these functions are repeated round
after round in succession. The barrel is
provided with water jacket, TO prevent
excessive heating; and Is so mounted that
it can be raised or lowered or set at an
angle, or turned horizontally 10 the left or
to the right. The bore is adapted to the
present size of cartridges; and the maxi
mum range is 500 yards The gun
can therefore be made TO sweep a
circle upwards of a mile in radius.
Nor is the gun excessively heavy, lis
total weight being only 100 pounds, made
up thus: Tripod, 30 pounds pivot (on
which the gun turns and by which it is
attached TO the tripod 10 pounds gun
and firing mechanism, 40 pounds The
parts can be easily detached and convcn
iently folded for carriage, and may be put
together again so quickly that if the belt
containing the cartridge, is in position, the
first shot can be delivered within ten sec
onds. 1t would, therefore, be extremely
serviccablc in preventing disaster through
body of troops being surprised. Recon.
noitering parties!'too, would deem il pru-
dent 10 pay greater Difference TO an en-.
emys lonely sentry on advanced outpost
duty If the latter were provided with this
new machine gun, instead OF the ordinary
rifle.
Immediately below the barrel Of the gun
box is placed containing the belt which
carries the cartridges. The belts vary in
length. Those commonly used are seven
feet long and capable of holding 333 car
tridgcs, shorter ones hold i20 cartridges,
but the several pieces can be joined to-
gether for continuous firing. Single shots
can be fired at any time, whether the belt
is in position or not-in the former case
by pressing button, which prevents the
recoil; in the latter, by handwriting in
the ordinary way To start firing, ono
end of the belt is inserted in the gun, the
trigger is pulled 10y the hand once after
which the movement becomes continuous
and automatic as long as the supply Of
cartridges lasts. At each rCcOil of the bar
rel the belt is pushed sufficiently upward
TO bring the next cartridge into position
the mechanism grasps this cartridge
draws ii from the belt and passes it on tc
the barrel Should faulty or an empty
cartridge find its way in, and the gun doe.
not 20 of in consequence, there is, oil
course, no recoil to keep up the repeating
action, and the mechanism ceases 10 worl
until the obstruction is removed.